Fashion and Things Feminine.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 276, 18 May 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

Fashion and Things Feminine.

By IDA MELLER - - Copyright.

A SMART BLOUSE AXD SKIKI'. A smart and practical style for house is the plaid woollen frock, made m the sleeveless fashion, to I>e worn with a var'ety of Mouses. The bodico is sometimes a mere skeleton affair, while other models show practically a complete bodice save for the abscricv of sleeves, and again a contrast is expressed in the plaid frock, with a wide or moderate-sized he It-piece and buckled or buttoned braces.

Tn ono fashion or another the plaid frock flour'shes, and the plaid skirt worn with a coat of self-colon red cloth, is, in fact, one of the most popular voguos of the moment. A charming blouse and skirt dress for the house is the subject of our illustration, and the -skirt, which is a particularly smart pattern, is intended 1 for plaid. It is beautifully cut, and the double box-pleats hang in ample folds, but nil bulk at the waist is avoided by the introduction of a hip-yoke, which sets to perfection and fastens at the back . This skirt is well worth copying, and lias been designed expressly for autumn materials. j'ho blouse is also an excellent model, and would look well in white or ercirfi; delaine or French flannel, or in dark green or navy |>oplin or mcrv. If worn

with a plaid skirt, the colour of tlio blouse, unless cream, should, of course, repeat the most prominent colour of the plaid. Very pretty is the arrangement of the front of tne blouse which i.s trimmed with buttons, suggests a vest effect, ana is iut in one with raglan sleeves. Theso latter are drawn below the elbows into deep, fitted cuffs, fastened on the outside with small butttons.

On either side of the front, the blouse material is arranged in pleats, which, however, are not stitched <lown along the edges, and the material flows our naturally in its descent.

A dainty collar completes the neck and the blouse fastens invisibly, edge tc edge, in front. The waist should be hemmed, and run with an elastic, fastened with a hook and eye. This method keeps the w.i'st neat, and is very convenient.

hack and ot foliar laid to the fold. The flouncing should he about I<J mdies deep, and about cue and a half or two yard, will bo required. 'Nothing could be simpler than this dainty little frock, which is easv to ni a I.e. and has the advantage of'fastening in the front. The end of the bodice should be gathered sbghtly. ii material allows of it, or may hang quite plain, the flounce in any ca&e b<s ing gathered.

In making up tho frock, the underarm seams must lie stitched, and the fronts faced with two straight ba.nds ot material. I lie la-stoning may be accomplished actually with buttons and buttonholes or with press-studs, tho buttons being only ornamental. riio neatest way to finish the frock where it is joined to the floun-e, is to bind it with tape or a strip of washing >ilk, and gather the flounce to the tape. Again, it i i as well to make a rather deep hem to the waist of the frock, as the latter can then be let down as the child grows, though, 011 the other hand, a sash can always hide a join. The coat, like the frock, is easy to make up, and the home dressmaker should experience no difficulty in putting it together. llie paper pattern includes one front of coat, half the back, one s eeve, half tho collar, and one cuff. These piece.; are sketched in diagram, together with tho lacking duplicate-pieces to complete pattern. 'Hie quantity of double-width material requited is about two yards. Tho stuff is indicated opened out to its ful! width in diagram, with the pattern of .he complete coat laid en it, but tho material might lie folded double. 0! course, and the paper pattern laid upon it somewhat differently. The fronts fasten with large buttons, and the back of the coat is seamier.

When tho coat lias boon tarkcd together and tried on, tho seams must bo opened and pressed with a hot iron en tho wrong side of the coat.